While team India are toying with Australian batters in the first Test that kicked off on February 9, Thursday, Mayank Agarwal played the innings of his life as he scored an effective double ton in the Ranji Trophy 2022/23 semi-finals against Saurashtra. It was Arpit Vasavada who won the toss and elected to field first on Wednesday, forcing Karnataka to bat first.
The Karnataka team’s skipper Agarwal remained steady at the crease while they kept losing wickets at the other end. To add more, Agarwal and his men were restricted to 112/5 after being forced to bat first and it was the right-handed batter who took the team past the 300-run mark on Thursday with his emphatic double century.
15 runs away from the double ton at Lunch on Day 2, Karnataka were reeling at 335/8 and the Indian veteran batter achieved the feat in no time. Wicketkeeper Srinivas Sharath played an important role with his gritty 66, playing a pivotal role in putting on a partnership with their skipper and getting the team back on its feet.
Can Karnataka make it through to the finals?
That being said, the Karnataka camp would look to make a cut to the summit clash of the highly-competitive tournament and it remains to be seen if Indian star Agarwal’s innings would pay off in the ongoing clash. Given Saurashtra have a decent batting strength, it would be upto the Karnataka bowlers to prove a point with the ball.
As far as the bowling is concerned for Saurashtra, it was Kushang Patel who stood up for the team with his three-for on the day. While pacer Chetan Sakariya backed his teammate with a two-for, although Agarwal brought Karnataka out of the mud single-handedly, inching them closer to a possible win against Saurashtra in the knockouts of the ongoing Ranji season, which has been extremely challenging for many teams.
Here’s how fans have reacted to Mayank Agarwal’s mighty double ton against Saurashtra in the semi-finals of the Ranji Trophy 2022/23 competition:
Marathon knock form mayank
— S reddy patil (@siddugoudapati0) February 9, 2023
Mayank Agarwal playing his innings of his life kind of innings for Karnataka. Lone warrior. #RanjiTrophy2023 #KARvsSAU
— Rangu 🙂 (@ranga_swamy) February 9, 2023
This is perhaps one of the best innings of Mayank Agarwals cricketing life.#mayankagarwal #RanjiTrophy2023 #KARvSAU
— sudarshan Rao (@sudarshanRao_) February 9, 2023
Absolute top notch cricket in that first session from both teams in the #BGT23
Meanwhile what a gem Mayank Agarwal is playing for Karnataka vs Saurashtra in #RanjiTrophy2023— Achraj Speaks Cricket? (@FastestCentury) February 9, 2023
#MayankAgarwal making a statement here!
? #KARvSAU
— Pradeep (@PradeepKarunadu) February 9, 2023
This is terrific batting against tight bowling. By Mayank Agarwal.
— ABVan (@ABVan) February 9, 2023
